Impact of a Telemedicine Program on the Reduction in the Emission of Atmospheric Pollutants and Journeys by Road

TLDR

The study aims to assess whether a telemedicine program in central Catalonia can lower environmental impact by reducing hospital visits and associated road travel. A retrospective analysis of telemedicine referrals from primary care centers between January 2018 and June 2019 was conducted to quantify avoided face‑to‑face visits and associated travel metrics. The program facilitated 12,322 telemedicine referrals, preventing 9,034 in‑person visits, saving 192,682 km, 3,779 h of travel, 11,754 L of fuel (≈€15,664), and reducing emissions by 3,248.3 g CO₂, 4.05 g CO, 4.86 g NO, and 3.2 g SO₂, thereby confirming its environmental sustainability.

Abstract

This retrospective study evaluates the effect of a telemedicine program developed in the central Catalan region in lowering the environmental footprint by reducing the emission of atmospheric pollutants thanks to a reduction in the number of hospital visits involving journeys by road. Between January 2018 and June 2019 a total of 12,322 referrals were made to telemedicine services in the primary care centers, avoiding a total of 9,034 face-to-face visits. In total, the distance saved was 192,682 km, with a total travel time savings of 3,779 hours and a total fuel reduction of 11,754 liters with an associated cost of €15,664. This represents an average reduction of 3,248.3 g of carbon dioxide, 4.05 g of carbon monoxide, 4.86 g of nitric oxide and 3.2 g of sulphur dioxide. This study confirms that telemedicine reduces the environmental impact of atmospheric pollutants emitted by vehicles, reducing the number of journeys made for face-to-face visits and can contribute to environmental sustainability.